Railway signal-torpedo.



P. DUTOHER.

RAILWAY SIGNAL TORPEDO.

APPLIUATION FILED APRA. 1912 Patented Dec. 2, 1913.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

F. BUTCHER.

RAILWAY SIGNAL TORPBDO.

APPLICATION FILED APR.4,1912.

1,080,428. v Patented Dec, 2, 1913.

2 SHBETSBHEET 2.

' invention,

FRANK BUTCHER, 0F VERSAILLIES, PENNSYLVANIA.

RAILWAY SIGNAL-TORIPEDO.

Specification of Ietters Patent.

Patented Dec. 2 1913.

Application filed April 4, 1912. Serial No. 688,570.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK Du'ronnn, a citizen of the United States, residing at Versailles, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Rail way Signal-Torpedoes, of which the following is a specification, reference. being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

My invention relates to improvements in railway signal torpedoes, and particularly to that class in which a paper or fiber explosive containing case is used.

The primary object of this invention is to connect a spring rail-engaging strap to the case of a torpedo so that the spring strap pass between the two clips, one of the clips serving to separate the spring strap from the torpedo case, and whereby the inner clip receives all the strain occasioned by forcing apart the ends of the spring strap thus relieving the explosive case of that strain.

Another object of my present invention is to attach a clip to a metallic covering of a paper explosive case and to provide another clip for attaching the railengaging strip to the first mentioned clip, whereby the foil coverin is relieved of the strain 00- casioned in the operating of the rail engaging strap.

In the accompanying 1 is a perspective view of a torpedo embodying my invention, the same shown in position on a railway rail. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the construction shown in Fig. 1, theseveral parts shown in separated relation. Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing a torpedo having a modified form of the the same shown in.position on a railway rail. Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional viewthrough Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a detached perspective view of the two clips and rail-engaging strap used in the modified construction of Figs. 3 and 4, the parts shown in separated relation. Fig. 6 is a 'top plan view of the torpedo shown inFig.

1, the same in position on a railway rail. Fig. 7 is an inverted perspective view of the completed torpedo, shown in Figs. 1 and 6. Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the construction shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the strap and one of the clips shown in position and the other clip separated therefrom. Fig. 9

drawings-Figure is an inverted perspective view, showing a modified form of the auxiliary strap attaching clamp. Fig. 10 is an inverted perspective view of the two clips and a strap, a modified form of the main clip being shown. Fig. 11 is an inverted plan view of the construction shown in Fig. 10.

In carrying out my present invention, a

paper explosive containing case 1 is provided with a thin metallic foil covering 2, which is wrapped therearound to form extended clip attaching flanges 3 at its ends.

This foil covering is composed of aluminum so that it will be sufficiently strong to receive and support the main clip 4 and to enable the flanges 5 of Said clip to be bent over and tightly embrace the flanges 3, of the covering without cutting or injuring the aluminum foil covering, which would lie-likely to occur if the foil was made I such as tin.

Incarrying out my present improvement, I also use for convenience what I will term an auxiliary strap attaching clip 6. In the. form shown in Figs. 1, 6 and 7, the ears 8 of the auxiliary clip 6 provide intervening notches 9 to receive the bends 10 of a springrail engaging strap 11. This strap 11 passes between the main and auxiliary clips, as shown in Figs. 6 and 7, and the bends or projections 10 of the spring strap 11 ngage the end walls of the notches 9 and hold the strap 11 against movement between the two clips. As shown in Figs. 2 and 7, the ends of the ears 8 are bent around the main clip 4, and these two clips are attached together with a strap 11 between them before the main clip 4 is attached to the clip attaching flanges 3 of the metallic foil covering 2.

By providing an auxiliary clip 6 and passing the spring strap between it and the main clip all strain occasioned by the separating of the ends of the strap to place the torpedo on a railroad rail is directly received by the two clips and relieves any strain on the foil flanges 3. If no auxiliary clip (3 is provided the strap 11 must pass between the main clip 4 and the torpedo, and the separating of the ends of this strap will place a separating strain on the clip 4 and the torpedo, thus bringing a very objectionable strain on the clip receiving flanges 3 of the of soft metal g,

foil covering. Furthermore, such arrangement would not so effectually hold the spring clamp in position, because the main clip 4 is yielding between its ends in respect to the torpedo andwould not make the rigid fastening tor the strap that the two clips pro- I vide.

with notches 12 in 1ts sides instead of in its ends as shown in Figs. 2, 7 and 8; By this arrangement the strap 11 extends longitudinal the torpedo case instead of transverse thereof, as shown in Figs. 1, 7 and 8.

In Fig. 9, I show a modification of the auxiliary clip 6 in that the clip is provided clip may be used for holding the strap 11 either longitudinal or transverse the torpedo case.

In Figs. 10 and 11, I show a modified form of the main clip 4, in that its edges are curved, as shown at 13, and this as will be readily understood, serves to hold the auxiliary clip 6 against longitudinal movement on the main clip 4. The clip of Figs. 10 and 11 is further modified in that it is provided signature in the presence of two witnesses.

on its under side below the attaching flanges 3, with punched or upset projections 14 adapted. to engage the flanges 3- and look I the main clip against lateral movement on 5 the flanges 3.

Having thus described my invention what Qauxiliary clip. with the notches 9 and 12,'whereby the same I claim and desire to secure by LettersPatcut is: I

p 1. A railway signal torpedo having a main cli attached thereto, an auxiliaryvclip attac ed to the outside of the main clip, and

a rail stra passed between the said cli s.

2. A rai way signal torpedo comprising-a vcovering flanges and an auxlliary clip attached to the outside of the main clip, and

a rail strap passing between the two clips.

3. A railway signal torpedo comprising an explosive containing case, a main clip attached thereto, an auxiliary clip having' notches for the passage of a rail engaging strap, the auxiliary clip attached to the outside of the main clip, and a rail engaging stra passing between the clips having proentering the nbtches of the jectlng portions 4. A railway signal torpedo comprising an explosive containing case, a main clip attached thereto, and an auxiliary strap attaching clip adapted to be attached to the main clip the said auxiliary clip provided with note es in its ends and in its sides,

whereby it is adapted to receive a'strap beftween it and the main clip and support the- :strap either longitudinal or transverse the explosive case. g i

In testimony whereof I hereuntoaflix my FRANK DUTGHER. 

